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SIX  ORATIONS  OF  PAUL 

Introduction  and  Comments  on  Text 

By  E.  P.  CLARKE 

President  of  California  State 
Board  of  Education 


Six  Orations  of  Paul 

INTRODUCTION    AND 
COMMENTS  ON  TEXT 

By  E.   P.   Clarke 

President  of  California  State 
Board  of  Education 


1922 
Harr  Wagner  Publishing  Co. 

San  Francisco,  California 


Copyright 
1922 

Harr  Wagner  Publishing  Co. 
San  Francisco,  California 

Al. 


f\ 

*-.-''     '" 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


Foreword. 

Map  of  Paul's  Missionary  Journeys. 
I — Paul  Declares  Jesus  the  Messiah. 
II— Paul  at  Mars  Hill. 
Ill— Picture  of  Mars  Hill. 
IV — Paul's  Farewell  to  the  Ephesian  Elders. 
V— Paul  Stills  the  Jewish  Mob. 
VI— Paul  Before  Felix. 


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FOREWORD 

We  study  the  orations  of  Cicero,  why 
not  the  orations  of  Paul  ? 

Perhaps  one  answer  to  this  question 
is  the  fact  that  even  among  leaders  of 
the  Christian  church  there  has  been  lit- 
tle recognition  of  the  fact  that  Paul  is 
one  of  the  great  orators  of  history. 

The  church  has  made  full  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  greatness  of  Paul  in 
other  respects.  He  stands  out  in  his- 
tory as  preeminently  the  missionary  to 
the  Gentiles;  he  was  an  efficient  organ- 
izer; he  ranks  very  high  as  a  theolog- 
ian; he  was  a  versatile  linguist  for  he 
spoke  and  wrote  Hebrew,  Latin  and 
Greek  with  equal  facility ;  he  was  an  in- 
trepid hero  of  the  faith;  and  finally  a 
martyr  for  the  truth.  Paul  was  all  these 
and  more  but  in  addition  he  is  entitled 
to  a  place  of  leadership  as  an  orator; 


10  FOREWORD 

and  that  conclusion  is  based  both  on  the 
subject  matter  of  his  addresses  and  on 
their  effect  on  those  who  heard  them. 

There  has  come  down  to  us  a  tradi- 
tion of  Paul  as  a  "little  hooknosed  Jew", 
inferior  in  appearance  and  humble  and 
almost  apologetic  in  manner.  That  tra- 
dition, however,  is  not  founded  on 
Luke's  narrative  in  the  Acts  or  on 
Paul's  references  to  himself  in  his  epis- 
tles. It  is  true  that  he  had  some  form 
of  bodily  infirmity,  but  there  is  no  logic 
in  the  conclusion  that  this  was  such  as 
to  mar  his  dignity  or  stamp  him  with 
any  appearance  of  inferiority.  We 
want  to  remember  that  early  in  his  min- 
istry, the  people  of  Lystra  were  ready 
to  worship  Paul  as  Mercury,  the  god 
of  eloquence.  That  was  a  tribute  both 
to  his  oratory  and  to  his  personal  ap- 
pearance, for  we  know  that  Mercury 
in  the  conception  of  the  time  was  the 
ideal  of  grace  and  beauty. 


FOREWORD  11 

We  do  well  to  recall  the  fact  that 
Paul  charmed  the  critical  Athenians 
with  his  address  on  Mar's  Hill;  that 
by  the  force  of  his  eloquence  he  com- 
pelled the  Jewish  mob  that  thirsted  for 
his  blood  to  listen  to  him  while  he  vin- 
dicated his  position  as  a  leader  in  the 
Christian  faith;  that  he  made  a  pro- 
found impression  before  the  court  of 
Agrippa;  and  that  he  stirred  the  city 
of  Rome  during  the  years  there  when 
he  "preached  the  kingdom  of  God  with 
all  confidence". 

A  review  of  the  epistles  of  Paul  shows 
scores  of  passages  that  are  strictly  ora- 
torical in  character.  The  habit  of  the 
orator  was  so  strong  upon  PaU  that 
even  in  his  letters,  he  breaks  forth  in 
matchless,  sonorous  bits  of  oratory. 

Take  these  as  examples: 

Romans  8 :35,  38-9 : 

Who  shall  separate  us  from  the 
love  of  Christ?  Shall  tribulation,  or 


12  FOREWORD 

distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine, 
or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword? 

For  I  am  persuaded  that  neither 
death  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  prin- 
cipalities, nor  powers,  nor  things 
present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature  shall  be  able  to  separate 
us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus,  our  Lord. 
First  Corinthians  13.  The  first  and 
last  verses  are  characteristic : 

Though  I  speak  with  the  tongues 
of  men  and  of  angels  and  have  not 
love,  I  am  become  as  sounding 
brass  or  a  tinkling  cymbal. 

And  now  abideth  faith,  hope, 
love,  these  three;  but  the  greatest 
of  these  is  love. 

Ephesians  3  :  20-21 : 

Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do 
exceeding  abundantly,  above  all 
that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to 
the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto 


FOREWORD  13 

him  be  glory  in  the  church  by 
Christ  Jesus  throughout  all  ages, 
world  without  end. 

Philippians  3:  13-14: 

This  one  thing  I  do,  forgetting 

those  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things 

which  are  before,  I  press  toward 
the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Colossians  3:   11: 

Where  there  is  neither  Greek, 
nor  Jew,  circumcision,  nor  uncir- 

cumcision,  Barbarian,  Scythian, 
bond,  nor  free;  but  Christ  is  all 

and  in  all. 
/^h    Second  Timothy  4:  6-8: 

I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered, 
and  the  time  of  my  departure  is 
at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good 
fight.  I  have  finished  my  course, 
I  have  kept  the  faith;  henceforth 
there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the 


14  FOREWORD 

righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  at 
that  day:  and  not  to  me  only,  but 
unto  all  them  also  that  love  his 
appearing. 

If  we  are  to  accept  Paul  as  the  au- 
thor of  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  and 
that,  I  take  it,  is  still  a  debatable  ques- 
tion, this  passage  may  well  be  chosen 
as  another  illustration. 
Hebrews  11:  32-34,  12:  1-2: 

And  shall  I  say  more?  For  the 
time  would  fail  me  to  tell  of  Gid- 
eon, and  of  Barak,  and  of  Samson, 
and  of  Jephthah;  of  David  also, 
and  Samuel,  and  of  the  prophets: 
Who  through  faith  subdued  king- 
doms, wrought  righteousness,  ob- 
tained promises,  stopped  the 
mouths  of  lions,  quenched  the  vio- 
lence of  fire,  escaped  the  edge  of 
the  sword,  out  of  weakness  were 
made  strong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight, 
turned  to  flight  the  armies  of  the 
aliens. 


FOREWORD  15 

Wherefore  seeing  we  also  are 
compassed  about  with  so  great  a 
cloud  of  witnesses,  let  us  lay  aside 
every  weight  and  the  sin  which 
doth  so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us 
run  with  patience  the  race  that  is 
set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus 
the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith. 

Paul  did  not  write  out  his  addresses ; 
and  his  friend  and  companion,  Luke, 
did  not  make  stenographic  notes  of 
memorable  orations  he  heard  Paul  give 
and  later  transcribe  them  for  the  ben- 
efit of  posterity.  Luke,  however,  was 
what  the  modern  newspaper  man  would 
call  a  remarkably  fine  reporter;  and 
he  has  preserved  for  us  the  substance 
of  several  addresses  of  Paul.  I  have 
selected  six  of  these  as  typical  of  the 
style  of  Paul  and  as  worthy  of  as  care- 
ful and  respectfuly  study  as  we  bestow 
on  the  classics  of  other  great  orators 
of  history. 


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MISSIONARY  JOURNEYS 
OF  PAUL 

(See  Map  on  Opposite  Page) 

FIRST  JOURNEY:  (with  Barnabas  and  Mark) 
from  Antioch  (in  Syria)  to  Cypress,  Pamphylia, 
Antioch  (in  Psidia),  Iconium,  and  Perga  and 
back  to  Antioch. 

SECOND  JOURNEY:  (with  Silas,  Timothy 
and  Luke)  from  Antioch  through  Cilicia  to  Troas 
and  thence  to  Macedonia,  visiting  Phillipi,  Cor- 
inth, Athens  and  Ephesus.  Thence  returning  to 
Caesarea  and  Jerusalem  and  then  back  to  An- 
tioch. 

THIRD  JOURNEY:  (with  Luke  and  Titus) 
from  Antioch  to  Greese,  where  the  cities  in 
which  Paul  preached  and  founded  churches  in 
his  second  journey  were  revisited.  On  his  re- 
turn, the  apostle  stopped  at  Miletus  to  bid  fare- 
well to  the  elders  of  the  Ephesian  church.  He 
continued  his  journey  to  Jerusalem. 

FOURTH  JOURNEY:  As  prisoner  (with 
Luke  and  Aristarchus)  from  Caeserea  by  Cy- 
press, Crete,  and  Malta  to  Rome. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  after  his  first  impris- 
onment at  Rome  Paul  made  another  missionary 
journey  that  took  him  to  Spain  and  some  say 
even  to  Britain.  This,  however,  is  tradition  and 
not  biblical  record. 


PAUL  DECLARES  JESUS  THE 
MESSIAH 

Acts  13:  17-39 

INTRODUCTION 

It  must  be  admitted  that  in  rhetorical 
effect,  this  address  is  not  equal  to  some 
others  which  Luke  reports  in  some  de- 
tail; but  it  is  of  marked  interest  as  the 
first  statement  of  any  length  in  Paul's 
own  words  in  defense  of  the  Christian 
faith.  It  is  a  cogent  argument  moreover 
to  the  Jews  in  support  of  the  Messiah- 
ship  of  Jesus ;  he  says,  "We  declare  unto 
you  glad  tidings  how  that  the  promise 
that  was  made  unto  the  fathers,  God 
hath  fulfilled  the  same  unto  us  their 
children/3  Paul  also  gives  strong  em- 
phasis to  one  of  the  cardinal  points  in 
the  Christian  faith — the  resurrection  of 
Jesus,  fully  attested  to  by  a  large  group 
of  disciples  "who  are  his  witnesses." 


20        ''  '  ' ' ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

This  sermon  that  we  can  fittingly 
class  as  an  oration  was  given  at  Antioch 
in  Pisidia,  to  a  Jewish  audience  in  a 
Jewish  synagogue.  Paul  spoke  in  re- 
sponse to  the  invitation  of  the  ruler  of 
the  synagogue,  "Ye  men  and  brethren, 
if  ye  have  any  word  of  exhortation  for 
the  people,  say  on/3  Then  Paul  stood 
up  and  beckoning  with  his  hand  said: 

TEXT   OF   ORATION 

Men  of  Israel,  and  ye  that  fear 
God,  give  audience. 

The  God  of  this  people  of  Israel 
chose  our  fathers,  and  exalted  the 
people  when  they  dwelt  as  strang- 
ers in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  with 
a  high  arm  brought  he  them  out 
of  it. 

And  about  the  time  of  forty 
years  suffered  he  their  manners  in 
the  wilderness. 

And  when  he  had  destroyed  sev- 
en nations  in  the  land  of  Chanaan, 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  21 

he  divided  their  land  to  them  by  lot. 

And  after  that  he  gave  unto 
them  judges  about  the  space  of 
four  hundred  and  fifty  years,  until 
Samuel  the  prophet. 

And  afterward  they  desired  a 
king:  and  God  gave  unto  them 
Saul  the  son  of  Cis,  a  man  of  the 
tribe  of  Benjamin,  by  the  space  of 
forty  years. 

And  when  he  had  removed  him, 
he  raised  up  unto  them  David  to 
be  their  king;  to  whom  also  he 
gave  testimony,  and  said,  I  have 
found  David  the  son  of  Jesse,  a 
man  after  mine  own  heart,  which 
shall  fulfill  all  my  will. 

Of  this  man's  seed  hath  God,  ac- 
cording to  his  promise,  raised  unto 
Israel  a  Saviour,  Jesus: 

When  John  had  first  preached 
before  his  coming  the  baptism  of 
repentance  to  all  the  people  of 
Israel. 


22  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

And  as  John  fulfilled  his  course, 
he  said,  Whom  think  ye  that  I  am? 
I  am  not  he.  But,  behold,  there 
cometh  one  after  me,  whose  shoes 
of  his  feet  I  am  not  worthy  to 
loose. 

Men  and  Brethren,  children  of  the 
stock  of  Abraham,  and  whosoever 
among  you  feareth  God,  to  you  is 
the  word  of  this  salvation  sent. 

For  they  that  dwell  at  Jerusa- 
lem, and  their  rulers,  because  they 
knew  him  not,  nor  yet  the  voices 
of  the  prophets  which  are  read 
every  sabbath  day,  they  have  ful- 
filled them  in  condemning  him. 

And  though  they  found  no  cause 
of  death  in  him,  yet  desired  they 
Pilate  that  he  should  be  slain. 

And  when  they  had  fulfilled  all 
that  was  written  of  him,  they  took 
him  down  from  the  tree,  and  laid 
him  in  a  sepulchre. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  23 

But  God  raised  him  from  the 
dead: 

And  he  was  seen  many  days  of 
them  which  came  up  with  him 
from  Galilee  to  Jerusalem,  who  are 
his  witnesses  unto  the  people. 

And  we  declare  unto  you  glad 
tidings,  how  that  the  promise  which 
was  made  unto  the  fathers, 

God  hath  fulfilled  the  same  unto 
us  their  children,  in  that  he  hath 
raised  up  Jesus  again;  as  it  is  also 
written  in  the  second  psalm,  Thou 
art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begot- 
ten thee. 

And  as  concerning  that  he  raised 
him  up  from  the  dead,  now  no 
more  to  return  to  corruption,  he 
said  on  this  wise,  I  will  give  you 
the  sure  mercies  of  David. 

Wherefore  he  saith  also  in  an- 
other psalm.  Thou  shalt  not  suffer 
thine  Holy  One  to  see  corruption. 


24  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

For  David,  after  he  had  served 
his  own  generation  by  the  will  of 
God,  fell  on  sleep,  and  was  laid 
unto  his  fathers,  and  saw  corrup- 
tion: 

But  he  whom  God  raised  again, 
saw  no  corruption. 

Be  it  known  unto  you  therefore, 
men  and  brethren,  that  through 
this  man  is  preached  unto  you  the 
forgiveness  of  sins: 

And  by  him  all  that  believe  are 
justified  from  all  things,  from 
which  ye  could  not  be  justified  by 
the  law  of  Moses. 


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ORATIONS    OF   PAUL  25 


PAUL  AT  MARS  HILL 
Acts  17:  22-31 

INTRODUCTION 

We  do  not  know  that  they  had  daily 
newspapers  in  Athens  at  the  time  of 
Paul's  visit,  but  there  were  other  forms 
of  effective  publicity  before  the  days 
of  newspapers;  and  it  seems  quite  evi- 
dent that  Paul's  arguments  in  the  syn- 
agogue of  the  Jews  and  in  the  market 
place  daily  with  all  who  would  listen 
to  him  became  well  noised  abroad 
through  the  city.  Certain  it  is  that 
some  of  the  leaders  of  public  opinion, 
philosophers,  teachers  and  no  doubt 
politicians,  thought  it  would  be  a  fine 
thing  to  give  him  the  supreme  oppor- 
tunity that  the  city  afforded  to  tell 
about  his  "strange  gods"  and  so  they 
conducted  him  to  Mars  Hill,  near  the 
Acropolis,  apparently  with  every  mark 


26  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

of  consideration  and  respect.  We  may 
be  sure  moreover  that  his  appearance 
on  this  occasion  was  well  advertised 
and  that  he  had  a  highly  distinguished 
audience,  many  simply  curious  to  "hear 
some  new  thing",  but  others  sincerely 
desirous  to  know  more  of  the  story  of 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  as  told  by  this 
unknown  but  eloquent  Jew. 

What  Luke  gives  us  of  the  oration 
on  Mars  Hill  is  of  course  only  a  frag- 
ment, but  it  is  a  fragment  that  indi- 
cates clearly  the  greatness  of  the  ad- 
dress. Paul  was  conciliatory  at  the 
outset;  he  showed  his  knowledge  of 
Greek  literature;  he  worked  up  to  his 
climaxes  with  the  grace  and  skill  of 
the  true  orator;  and  he  had  the  noble 
courage  to  drive  home  the  lesson  of 
repentance. 

Paul's  message  must  have  been  truly 
a  "new  thing'7  to  those  critical  Athen- 
ians; some  scoffed;  others  were  indif- 


ORATIONS    OF   PAUL  27 

ferent;  but  a  considerable  group  at 
least  were  profoundly  stirred.  The 
philosophy  of  the  Christian  faith  was 
new  then,  not  merely  in  Athems  but 
generally  throughout  the  known  world. 
But  that  philosophy  has  shaped  the 
course  of  history  and  transformed  man- 
kind, while  most  of  the  fads  that  seem- 
ed so  important  to  the  news-eager  and 
disputatious  Athenians  have  long  since 
been  forgotten. 

TEXT   OF   ORATION 

Ye  men  of  Athens,  I  perceive 
that  in  all  things  ye  are  very  re- 
ligious. 

For  as  I  passed  by,  and  beheld 
your  devotions  I  found  an  altar 
with  this  inscription,  TO  THE 
UNKNOWN  GOD.  Whom  there- 
fore ye  ignorantly  worship,  him 
declare  I  unto  you. 

God  that  made  the  world  and 
all  things  therein,  seeing  that  he  is 


28  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  dwelleth 
not  in  temples  made  with  hands; 

Neither  is  worshiped  with  men's 
hands,  as  though  he  needed  any- 
thing, seeing  he  giveth  to  all  life, 
and  breath,  and  all  things; 

And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all 
nations  of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all 
the  face  of  the  earth,  and  hath  de- 
termined the  times  before  appoint- 
ed, and  the  bounds  of  their  habi- 
tation ; 

That  they  should  seek  the  Lord, 
if  haply  they  might  feel  after  him, 
and  find  him,  though  he  be  not  far 
from  every  one  of  us: 

For  in  him  we  live,  and  move, 
and  have  our  being;  as  certain 
also  of  your  own  poets  have  said, 
For  we  are  also  his  offspring. 

Forasmuch  then  as  we  are  the 
offspring  of  God,  we  ought  not  to 
think  that  the  Godhead  is  like  unto 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  29 

gold,  or  silver,  or  stone  graven  by 
art  and  man's  device. 

And  the  times  of  this  ignorance 
God  winked  at;  but  now  com- 
mandeth  all  men  everywhere  to 
repent : 

Because  he  hath  appointed  a 
day,  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness  by  that  man 
whom  he  hath  ordained;  whereof 
he  hath  given  assurance  unto  all 
men,  in  that  he  hath  raised  him 
from  the  dead. 


ORATIONS    OF   PAUL  31 


PAUL'S  FAREWELL  TO  THE 
EPHESIAN  ELDERS 

Acts  20:  18-35 

INTRODUCTION 

We  are  apt  to  think  of  Paul  as  a 
lonely  and  austere  man,  without  close 
friends  or  intimates  and  without  qual- 
ities that  knit  men  to  him.  That,  how- 
ever, is  not  the  proper  conception  of 
the  character  of  Paul.  We  have  only 
to  recall  his  friendship  for  Luke,  Tim- 
othy and  other  coworkers,  his  affection 
for  the  slave  Onesimus  and  his  tender 
farewell  to  the  elders  of  the  church  at 
Ephesus  on  the  shore  at  Miletus  to 
realize  that  he  was  a  man  of  tender, 
loving  heart  and  a  devoted  pastor.  His 
personal  relations  to  the  members  of 
the  churches  that  he  founded  were  like 
those  of  a  father  to  his  children. 


32  ORATIONS    OF   PAUL 

Paul  was  not  much  given  to  talking 
about  himself,  but  in  this  message  to 
these  friends  from  Ephesus  he  opened 
his  heart  to  them.  He  showed  them 
how  much  he  loved  them  and  the  peo- 
ple from  whom  they  came;  he  told 
them  how  he  had  given  himself  unspar- 
ingly to  the  service  of  the  Master;  and 
he  plead  with  them  to  follow  his  exam- 
ple and  "help  the  weak",  remembering 
the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  "how  he 
said  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive".  No  wonder,  as  Luke  tells  us 
in  his  simple  but  wonderfully  graphic 
story,  that  "they  all  wept  sore,  and  fell 
on  Paul's  neck  and  kissed  him,  sorrow- 
ing most  of  all  for  the  words  which  he 
spake  that  they  should  see  his  face  no 


more" 


That  sort  of  a  demonstration  was 
never  called  out  except  by  a  man  of 
winning  personality  and  tender  affec- 
tion. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  33 

TEXT   OF   ORATION 

Ye  know,  from  the  first  day  that 
I  came  into  Asia,  after  what  man- 
ner I  have  been  with  you  at  all 
seasons, 

Serving  the  Lord  with  all  humil- 
ity of  mind,  an<i  with  many  tears, 
and  temptations,  which  befell  me 
by  the  lying  in  wait  of  the  Jews: 

And  how  I  kept  back  nothing 
that  was  profitable  unto  you,  but 
have  shewed  you,  and  have  taught 
you  publicly,  and  from  house  to 
house, 

Testifying  both  to  the  Jews,  and 
also  to  the  Greeks,  repentance  to- 
ward God,  and  faith  toward  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

And  now,  behold,  I  go  bound  in 
the  spirit  unto  Jerusalem,  not 
knowing  the  things  that  shall  be- 
fall me  there: 


34  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

Save  that  the  Holy  Ghost  wit- 
nesseth  in  every  city,  saying  that 
bonds  and  afflictions  abide  me. 

But  none  of  these  things  move 
me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear 
unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  finish 
my  course  with  joy,  and  the  minis- 
try, which  I  have  received  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel 
of  the  grace  of  God. 

And  now,  behold  I  know  that  ye 
all,  among  whom  I  have  gone 
preaching  the  kingdom  of  God, 
shall  see  my  face  no  more. 

Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record 
this  day,  that  I  am  pure  from  the 
blood  of  all  men. 

For  I  have  not  shunned  to  de- 
clare unto  you  all  the  counsel  of 
God. 

Take  heed  therefore  unto  your- 
selves, and  to  all  the  flock,  over 
the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  35 

made  you  overseerers,  to  feed  the 
church  of  God,  which  he  hath  pur- 
chased with  his  own  blood. 

For  I  know  this,  that  after  my 
departing  shall  grievous  wolves 
enter  in  among  you,  not  sparing 
the  flock. 

Also  of  your  own  selves  shall 
men  arise,  speaking  perverse  things, 
to  draw  away  disciples  after  them. 

Therefore  watch,  and  remember, 
that  by  the  space  of  three  years  I 
ceased  not  to  warn  every  one  night 
and  day  with  tears. 

And  now,  brethren,  I  commend 
you  to  God,  and  to  the  word  of 
his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build 
you  up,  and  to  give  you  an  inher- 
itance among  all  them  which  are 
sanctified. 

I  have  coveted  no  man's  silver, 
or  gold,  or  apparel. 


36  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

Yea,  ye  yourselves  know,  that 
these  hands  have  ministered  unto 
my  necessities,  and  to  them  that 
were  with  me. 

I  have  shewed  you  all  things, 
how  that  so  labouring  ye  ought  to 
support  the  weak,  and  to  remem- 
ber the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
how  he  said,  It  is  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive. 


ORATIONS    OF   PAUL  37 


PAUL  STILLS  THE  JEWISH  MOB 

Acts  22:  1-21 

INTRODUCTION 

Paul's  rescue  from  the  Jewish  mob 
at  the  door  of  the  temple  and  his  ad- 
dress on  the  steps  of  the  Roman  castle 
make  a  story  of  thrilling  interest  and 
place  the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  before 
us  in  the  light  of  a  great  orator  and 
a  true  hero. 

The  attack  on  Paul  was  entirely  with- 
out justification.  It  was  started  by  the 
lying  report  that  the  apostle  had  taken 
Gentiles  into  the  inner  court  of  the  tem- 
ple. But  the  Jewish  fanatics  were  more 
ready  to  believe  a  lie  about  Paul  than 
the  truth  and  so  they  fell  upon  him 
and  would  have  torn  him  in  pieces  but 
for  the  timely  intervention  of  the  Ro- 
man soldiers.  They  drove  back  the 


38  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

bloodthirsty  Jews,  dragged  Paul  away 
from  them  and  started  to  take  him  up 
into  the  castle. 

One  might  think  that  Paul  would 
have  been  very  glad  to  escape  and  that 
he  would  have  lost  no  time  in  getting 
safely  behind  the  brazen  doors  of  the 
castle,  against  which  the  howling  der- 
vishes who  were  after  him  might  bear 
in  vain.  But  Paul  was  not  that  sort 
of  a  man.  He  had  faced  mobs  before; 
he  had  been  stoned  and  dragged  out 
of  cities  as  dead;  he  had  fought  with 
wild  beasts  in  the  arena  at  Ephesus; 
and  he  was  not  afraid  of  these  Jews. 
He  had  a  message  for  them  and  he  pro- 
posed to  deliver  it  then  and  there.  The 
Roman  eagles  were  at  his  back,  sym- 
bols of  an  authority  that  the  Jews  hated 
but  nevertheless  feared.  And  speaking 
in  Greek  to  the  captain,  he  asked  per- 
mission to  address  the  men  who  were 
howling  for  his  life.  And  when  per- 
mission was  granted,  he  wiped  the  dust 


ORATIONS    OF   PAUL  39 

and  blood  from  his  face,  stretched  forth 
his  hand,  stilled  the  mob,  and  then, 
speaking  in  Hebrew,  he  began  his  de- 
fense It  is  a  magnificent  picture  of 
courage  and  power. 

TEXT   OF   ORATION 

Men,  brethren,  and  fathers,  hear 
ye  my  defence  which  I  make  now 
unto  you. 

I  am  verily  a  man  which  am  a 
Jew,  born  in  Tarsus,  a  city  in  Cil- 
icia,  yet  brought  up  in  this  city  at 
the  feet  of  Gamaliel  and  taught 
according  to  the  perfect  manner  of 
the  law  of  the  fathers,  and  was 
zealous  toward  God,  as  ye  all  are 
this  day. 

And  I  persecuted  this  way  unto 
the  death,  binding  and  delivering 
into  prisons  both  men  and  women. 

As  also  the  high  priest  doth 
bear  me  witness,  and  all  the  estate 


40  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

of  the  elders:  from  whom  also  I 
received  letters  unto  the  brethren, 
and  went  to  Damascus,  to  bring 
them  which  were  there  bound  unto 
Jerusalem,  for  to  be  punished. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  I 
made  my  journey,  and  was  come 
nigh  unto  Damascus  about  noon, 
suddenly  there  shone  from  heaven 
a  great  light  round  about  me. 

And  I  fell  unto  the  ground,  and 
heard  a  voice  saying  unto  me, 
Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou 
me? 

And  I  answered,  Who  art  thou, 
Lord?  And  he  said  unto  me,  I  am 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  whom  thou  per- 
secutest. 

And  they  that  were  with  me  saw 
indeed  the  light,  and  were  afraid; 
but  they  heard  not  the  voice  of  him 
that  spake  to  me. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  41 

And  I  said,  What  shall  I  do, 
Lord?  And  the  Lord  said  unto 
me,  Arise,  and  go  into  Damascus; 
and  there  it  shall  be  told  thee  of 
all  things  which  are  appointed  for 
thee  to  do. 

And  when  I  could  not  see  for 
the  glory  of  that  light,  being  led 
by  the  hand  of  them  that  were 
with  me,  I  came  into  Damascus. 

And  one  Ananias,  a  devout  man 
according  to  the  law,  having  a 
good  report  of  all  the  Jews  which 
dwelt  there. 

Came  unto  me,  and  stood,  and 
said  unto  me,  Brother  Saul,  re- 
ceive thy  sight.  And  the  same 
hour  I  looked  up  upon  him. 

And  he  said,  The  God  of  our 
fathers  hath  chosen  thee,  that  thou 
shouldest  know  his  will,  and  see 
that  Just  One,  and  shouldest  hear 
the  voice  of  his  mouth. 


42  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

For  thou  shalt  be  his  witness 
unto  all  men  of  what  thou  hast 
seen  and  heard. 

And  now  why  tarriest  thou? 
arise,  and  be  baptized,  and  wash 
away  thy  sins,  calling  on  the  name 
of  the  Lord. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when 
I  was  come  again  to  Jerusalem, 
even  while  I  prayed  in  the  temple, 
I  was  in  a  trance; 

And  saw  him  saying  unto  me, 
Make  haste,  and  get  thee  quickly 
out  of  Jerusalem :  for  they  will  not 
receive  thy  testimony  concerning 
me. 

And  I  said,  Lord,  they  know 
that  I  imprisoned  and  beat  in 
every  synagogue  them  that  be- 
lieved on  thee: 

And  when  the  blood  of  thy  mar- 
tyr Stephen  was  shed,  I  also  was 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  43 

standing  by,  and  consenting  unto 
his  death,  and  kept  the  raiment  of 
them  that  slew  him. 

And  he  said  unto  me,  Depart: 
for  I  will  send  thee  far  hence  unto 
the  Gentiles. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  45 


PAUL  BEFORE  FELIX 
Acts  24:  10-21 

INTRODUCTION 

Paul  made  two  notable  defenses  be- 
fore the  Roman  authorities,  once  be- 
fore Felix  and  later  before  Agrippa. 
Luke  gives  us  a  more  complete  report 
of  the  oration  before  Agrippa,  but  the 
appearance  before  Felix  presents  Paul 
to  us  as  a  remarkable  pleader,  a  tactful 
and  conciliatory  speaker  and  an  able 
champion  of  the  vital  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

The  Jewish  accusers  of  Paul  did  not 
appear  in  person  on  the  occasion  of  the 
hearing  before  Felix,  but  they  hired  "a 
certain  orator,  named  Tertullus"  to  rep- 
resent them.  Tertullus  was  no  doubt 
a  Roman  and  we  should  call  him  a  jury 
lawyer.  He  started  in  by  handing  out 


46  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

a  lot  of  flattery  to  Felix  and  then  in- 
dulged in  a  rather  skillful  review  of 
the  charges  against  Paul  that  the  Jew- 
ish priests  had  loaded  him  up  with. 

When  Paul  came  to  speak,  he  did  not 
imitate  the  gross  flattery  of  Tertullus, 
but  he  did  establish  friendly  relations 
with  the  court  by  a  few  well-chosen 
words  of  compliment.  Then  he  opened 
up  on  Tertullus  and  he  certainly  made 
that  hired  pleader  look  very  small. 
There  was  a  dignity  and  power  about 
what  he  said  in  answer  to  the  charges 
of  the  Jews  that  must  have  commanded 
instant  and  respectful  attention. 

TEXT   OF   ORATION 
Forasmuch  as  I  know  that  thou 
hast  been  of  many  years  a  judge 
unto   this    nation,    I    do   the   more 
cheerfully  answer  for  myself: 

Because  that  thou  mayest  under- 
stand, that  there  are  yet  but  twelve 
days  since  I  went  up  to  Jerusalem 
for  to  worship. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  47 

And  they  neither  found  me  in 
the  temple  disputing  with  any  man, 
neither  raising  up  the  people,  neith- 
er in  the  synagogues,  nor  in  the 
city. 

Neither  can  they  prove  the  things 
•whereof  they  now  accuse  me. 

But  this  I  confess  unto  thee,  that 
after  the  way  which  they  call  here- 
sy, so  worship  I  the  God  of  my 
fathers,  believing  all  things  which 
are  written  in  the  law  and  in  the 
prophets : 

And  have  hope  toward  God, 
which  they  themselves  also  allow, 
that  there  shall  be  a  resurrection 
of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and 
unjust. 

And  herein  do  I  exercise  myself, 
to  have  always  a  conscience  void 
of  offence  toward  God,  and  toward 
men. 


48  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

Now  after  many  years  I  came 
to  bring  alms  to  my  nation,  and 
offerings. 

Whereupon  certain  Jews  from 
Asia  found  me  purified  in  the  tem- 
ple, neither  with  multitude,  nor 
with  tumult. 

Who  ought  to  have  been  here 
before  thee,  and  object,  if  they  had 
aught  against  me. 

Or  else  let  these  same  here  say, 
if  they  have  found  any  evil  doing 
in  me,  while  I  stood  before  the 
council. 

Except  it  be  for  this  one  voice, 
that  I  cried  standing  among  them, 
Touching  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead  I  am  called  in  question  by 
you  this  day. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  49 


PAUL'S  DEFENSE  BEFORE 
AGRIPPA 

Acts  26:  2-29 

INTRODUCTION 

The  Romans  dearly  loved  a  show; 
and  Paul's  defense  before  Agrippa  was 
made  a  notable  occasion  in  the  Roman 
court  at  Caeserea.  Luke  says  that  they 
gathered  "with  great  pomp",  and  that 
beside  Festus,  Agrippa  and  his  sister 
Bernice — famous  alike  for  her  beauty 
and  dissoluteness — the  "chief  captains 
and  principal  men"  of  the  city  were 
present. 

This  distinguished  company,  how- 
ever, was  to  be  treated  to  something 
more  than  a  spectacle.  They  had  heard 
no  doubt  of  the  fame  of  Paul  as  an 
orator;  and  this  fashionable  audience 
expected  to  witness  a  fine  exhibition 


50  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

of  eloquence.  In  this  they  were  not 
disappointed;  they  found  that  the  man 
who  disputed  on  Mars  Hill,  who  awed 
the  mob  on  the  castle  steps  at  Jerusa- 
lem and  discomforted  Tertullus  before 
Felix  had  in  his  two  years  in  prison 
lost  none  of  his  winning  grace,  manly 
dignity  and  moral  power.  They  were 
not  prepared,  however,  for  the  search- 
ing personal  appeal  he  made  to  their 
consciences,  and  that  after  all  is  the 
highest  test  of  oratory.  These  people 
who  had  come  together  to  make  a  show 
of  Paul's  oratory  were  glad  when  they 
could  close  the  hearing  and  escape  from 
his  "words  of  truth  and  soberness", 
lest  more  than  one  might  be  "almost 
persuaded". 

There  were  many  dramatic  incidents 
in  the  life  of  Paul,  but  none  more  so 
than  the  closing  appeal  in  this  noble 
oration.  The  climax  fairly  burns  itself 
into  the  memory;  no  jesture  of  elo- 
quence could  have  been  more  effective 


ORATIONS    OF   PAUL  51 

than  when  the  apostle  lifted  his  man- 
acled hands  and  said,  "I  would  to  God, 
that  not  only  thou,  but  also  all  that  hear 
me  this  day,  were  both  almost  and  al- 
together such  as  I  am,  except  these 
bonds". 

TEXT   OF   ORATION 

I  think  myself  happy,  king 
Agrippa,  because  I  shall  answer  for 
myself  this  day  before  thee  touch- 
ing all  the  things  whereof  I  am 
accused  of  the  Jews: 

Especially  because  I  know  thee 
to  be  expert  in  all  customs  and 
questions  which  are  among  the 
Jews:  wherefore  I  beseech  thee 
to  hear  me  patiently. 

My  manner  of  life  from  my 
youth,  which  was  at  the  first 
among  mine  own  nation  at  Jeru- 
salem, know  all  the  Jews; 

Which  knew  me  from  the  begin- 
ning, if  they  would  testify,  that 


52  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

after  the  most  straitest  sect  of  our 
religion  I  lived  a  Pharisee. 

And  now  I  stand  and  am  judged 
for  the  hope  of  the  promise  made 
to  God  unto  our  fathers: 

Unto  which  promise  our  twelve 
tribes,  instantly  serving  God  day 
and  night,  hope  to  come.  For 
which  hope's  sake,  king  Agrippa, 
I  am  accused  of  the  Jews. 

Why  should  it  be  thought  a 
thing  incredible  with  you,  that 
God  should  raise  the  dead? 

I  verily  thought  with  myself, 
that  I  ought  to  do  many  things 
contrary  to  the  name  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth. 

Which  thing  I  also  did  in  Jeru- 
salem: and  many  of  the  saints  did 
I  shut  up  in  prison,  having  receiv- 
ed authority  from  the  chief  priests ; 
and  when  they  were  put  to  death, 
I  gave  my  voice  against  them. 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  53 

And  I  punished  them  oft  in 
every  synagogue,  and  compelled 
them  to  blaspheme;  and  being  ex- 
ceedingly mad  against  them,  I  per- 
secuted them  even  unto  strange 
cities. 

Whereupon  as  I  went  to  Damas- 
cus with  authority  and  commission 
from  the  chief  priests, 

At  midday,  O  king,  I  saw  in  the 
way  a  light  from  heaven,  above 
the  brightness  of  the  sun,  shining 
round  about  me  and  them  which 
journeyed  with  me. 

And  when  we  were  all  fallen  to 
the  earth,  I  heard  a  voice  speaking 
unto  me,  and  saying  in  the  Hebrew 
tongue,  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecut- 
est  thou  me?  it  is  hard  for  thee 
to  kick  against  the  pricks. 

And  I  said,  Who  art  thou,  Lord? 
And  he  said,  I  am  Jesus  whom 
thou  persecutest. 


54  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

But  arise,  and  stand  upon  thy 
feet:  for  I  have  appeared  unto 
thee  for  this  purpose,  to  make  thee 
a  minister  and  a  witness  both  of 
these  things  which  thou  hast  seen, 
and  of  those  things  in  the  which 
I  will  appear  unto  thee; 

Delivering  thee  from  the  people, 
and  from  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom 
now  I  send  thee. 

To  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn 
them  from  darkness  to  light,  and 
from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God, 
that  they  may  receive  forgiveness 
of  sins,  and  inheritance  among 
them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith 
that  is  in  me. 

Whereupon,  O  king  Agrippa, 
I  was  not  disobedient  unto  the 
heavenly  vision: 

But  shewed  first  unto  them  of 
Damascus,  and  at  Jerusalem,  and 
throughout  all  the  coasts  of  Judea, 


ORATIONS   OF   PAUL  55 

and  then  to  the  Gentiles,  that  they 
should  repent  and  turn  to  God, 
and  do  works  meet  for  repentance. 

For  these  causes  the  Jews  caught 
me  in  the  temple,  and  went  about 
to  kill  me. 

Having  therefore  obtained  help 
of  God,  I  continue  unto  this  day, 
witnessing  both  to  small  and  great, 
saying  none  other  things  than  those 
which  the  prophets  and  Moses  did 
say  should  come: 

That  Christ  should  suffer,  and 
that  he  should  be  the  first  that 
should  rise  from  the  dead,  and 
should  shew  light  unto  the  peo- 
ple, and  to  the  Gentiles. 

(And  as  he  thus  spake  for  him- 
self, Festus  said  with  a  loud  voice, 
Paul,  thou  art  beside  thyself ; 
much  learning  doth  make  thee 
mad. 


56  ORATIONS   OF   PAUL 

But  he  said,) 

I  am  not  mad,  most  noble  Fes- 
tus;  but  speak  forth  the  words  of 
truth  and  soberness. 

For  the  king  knoweth  of  these 
things,  before  whom  also  I  speak 
freely:  for  I  am  persuaded  that 
none  of  these  things  are  hidden 
from  him;  for  this  thing  was  not 
done  in  a  corner. 

King  Agrippa,  believest  thou  the 
prophets?  I  know  that  thou  be- 
lievest. 

(Then  Agrippa  said  unto  Paul, 
Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be 
a  Christian. 

And  Paul  said,) 

I  would  to  God,  that  not  only 
thou,  but  also  all  that  hear  me  this 
day,  were  both  almost,  and  alto- 
gether such  as  I  am,  except  these 
bonds. 


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